So first up, here’s what he had to say during a news conference in New Delhi with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in response to a question about what role the United States could play in resolving the Kashmir dispute (NDTV has the video).

“With respect to Kashmir, obviously this is a long-standing dispute between India and Pakistan; as I said yesterday, I believe that both Pakistan and India have an interest in reducing tensions between the two countries. The United States cannot impose a solution to these problems but I have indicated to Prime Minister Singh that we are happy to play any role that the parties think is appropriate in reducing these tensions. That’s in the interests of the region; it is in the interests of the two countries involved and it is in the interests of the United States of America.

“So my hope is that conversations will be taking place between the two countries; they may not start on that particular flashpoint; there may be confidence building measures that need to take place, but I am absolutely convinced that it is both in India’s and Pakistan’s interest to reduce tensions and that will enable them I think to focus on the range of both challenges and opportunities that each country faces.”

“I do want to make this point though, that I think Prime Minister Singh throughout his career and throughout his prime ministership has consistently spoken out both publicly and privately on his desire, his personal commitment to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan and for that I very much commend him. I think Prime Minister Singh is sincere and relentless in his desire for peace. And so my hope is that both sides can, over the next several months, several years, find mechanisms that are appropriate for them to work out what are these very difficult issues.”

A quick reading between the lines suggests that he is unfraid of referring to Kashmir in public and keeping it on the agenda, while also acknowledging that resolving the dispute may take years rather than months, and that the two countries might need to build confidence by agreeing on other issues first. He also steered a middle course between Pakistan’s insistence that Kashmir is the core issue, and India’s demand that “cross-border terrorism” must end before it will agree to talk.

“The most important thing we’re going to have to do with respect to Afghanistan, is actually deal with Pakistan,” Obama said in an interview with MSNBC in October 2008. “We should probably try to facilitate a better understanding between Pakistan and India and try to resolve the Kashmir crisis so that they can stay focused not on India, but on the situation with those militants.”

Hence Obama’s words of praise for Singh’s commitment to peace at their news conference in Delhi. But after that the trail went cold . What went wrong?

In October 2009 in Chicago, the United States arrested David Headley, a Pakistani American accused of scouting out targets in Mumbai before switching allegiance to al Qaeda-linked militant commander Ilyas Kashmiri and plotting an attack in Denmark. Headley, who has since turned witness for the prosecution, provided fresh insight into why Mumbai happened in the way it did – see my story on testimony given by Headley to Indian investigators, based on Indian government documents.

The details he provided — again according to the Indian government documents — also suggested that many other targets in India were under consideration for attack by different Pakistan-based militants, even after Mumbai. In other words, if Singh had continued peace talks with Pakistan he would have been exposed to political criticism at a time when he could not be sure there would be no more big attacks in India.

We’ll come back to that lower down, as there are many sides to this story, but for now let’s stick to the timeline. As a caveat, I’d also add that this timeline is from the perspective of India-Pakistan relations, and their influence on the war in Afghanistan — Afghan specialists would probably see it differently.

Scroll forward now to Obama’s visit to India. Despite his offer of U.S. support to India for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council – something that will take years to come to fruition — his carefully chosen words on Kashmir and on relations between India and Pakistan do little to change the overall dynamics.

As the documents on Headley’s testimony suggest, Pakistan has a hard time keeping groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba in check when al Qaeda and its affiliates appear to be waging a more successful – or at least more eye-catching – global jihad in Afghanistan and beyond. Reading through his testimony, it is also clear how much the LeT is ideologically committed to Kashmir — many of its commanders have lost relatives fighting there — and how difficult it might be to disarm the group without movement on a political settlement. It is also clear why the latest summer of unrest in Kashmir might have made it even harder for Pakistan to control some of its militants, whose zeal on ending what they see as Indian oppression in the region has them straining at the leash.

From an Indian point of view, any prime minister who holds peace talks runs the risk of being embarrassed by an attack on Indian targets which coincides with his or her diplomatic initiative. Prime Minister Singh made that point in his news conference with Obama. Personally I was struck by the way he used the word “request” rather than “demand” in this comment:

“As far as India’s relations with Pakistan are concerned, I have always maintained a strong, peaceful moderate Pakistan is in the interests of India; is in the interests of South Asia, and the world as a whole. We are committed to engage Pakistan; we are committed to resolve all outstanding issues between our two countries including the word K; we are not afraid of that, but it is our request that you cannot simultaneously be talking and at the same time, the terror machine is as active as ever before. Once Pakistan moves away from this terror-induced coercion, we will be very happy to engage with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues.”

From an international point of view, the jihadi soup in Pakistan appears to be getting thicker and thicker, even as the country itself, to use the words of one Pakistani official, undergoes a “paradigm shift” in its readiness to tackle Islamist militants.

Headley, according to his testimony, moved relatively easily between the Kashmir-centric Laskhar-e-Taiba and Ilyas Kashmiri, with his al Qaeda inspired global agenda. But he was not alone in that. The documents also speak of two separate “setups” in Karachi to plan attacks on India using Indian Muslims. While one was run by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, the other was run by a man identified by the alias Abdur Rehman, who in turn was in contact with Kashmiri and claimed to have met Osama bin Laden.

We already know, to quote former CIA officer Bruce Riedel, that “the bad guys don’t stay in their lanes”. What we really need to know, however, is whether the inter-mingling of militants focused on Kashmir with those favouring the global jihad is getting stronger. If so, that will have increased the threat not just to India, but to the world as a whole and, perhaps most significantly, to Pakistan.

I would also suspect that no amount of carefully chosen words by President Obama would change those dynamics. And if that were the case, I might ask whether the Afghan Taliban can be taken out of the thickening jihadi soup by reaching a separate peace deal with them on Afghanistan. That would depend on whether you think Afghanistan can be dealt with separately from India and Pakistan. And whether you think the Taliban are ready to deal.

(Reuters photo: the source of the Nubra river in Siachen/Pawel Kopczinski)

Can you please share how you conclude that Pakistan is even trying to keep “groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba in check”?

Specifically, what do you mean by “in check”? Does it refer to stopping it from attacking Pakistan itself or stopping it from attacks in India?

I note that you have chosen to not mention the fact that every one of the plots discussed by Headley involved or atleast being reported to “ISI handlers”. Not one was stopped. So how exactly did you conclude that Pakistan was doing ANYTHING to keep the LeT “in check”?

It is the short sightedness of the leaders of Pakistan. They don’t really want a peaceful resolution on Kashmir, they want an imposed one, where India suffers loss of territory.

This manner of engaging must stop, also what must stop is use of militants and fictitious hijacking and use of the Kashmiri cause by Pakistan to steal and hoard more land, for geo-political expansion of a greedy creed.

The United States could have gone a little further and advocated for a renewed regional vision for the two countries in light of their troubled pasts, but he shyed away from such discussion and kept things too general.

It is apparent that Mr. Singh has a sincere to desire to resolve all disputes, but not on one-sided terms dictate by Pakistan, just because it thinks it can blackmail India with militant agitation or nuclear blackmail. India is worthy of respect and will give respect, as long as Pakistan is willing to be an honest true agent of peace brokering, without the use of assymetrical warfare.

Despite how much Pakistani’ have suffered from militantism, Pakistan is unwilling to take one the many groups that threaten NATO and the Afghan mission and in many cases, it has been suggested, aid, abet, support and protect the Haqqani, Hekmatyar and Afghan Taliban. It is also unwilling to take on others like AQ- and the Quetta Shura and TeT.

To the world, India and the United states, how can Pakistan be viewed as a sincere partner in peace, while it continues to dodge its responsibilities, despite the huge influx of aid money and its huge army? I don’t think any country in the world, despite its willingness to want to make peace can feel safe with such a incoherent, haphazard and lying neighbour. It is really all quite odd, India continually offers peace, while Pakistan builds more nxkes, from IMF and Aid money, while its people starve and its nation is again on the brink of financial disaster, as it begs for more leniency from the IMF and in the same breath expects India to resolve the Kashmir dispute? What about Pakistani’s obligations to the 1948 UN resolutions, what about freedom of Kashmiri’s in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, again for the tenth time I have mentioned this, but this topic continues to evade discussion.

Bruce Reidel is half right, the bad guys don’t stay in their lanes, but if the threat offered by Richard Armitage to Pakistan, demanding compliance and obedience on the war on terror is any indicator, the United States, can impose Pakistan to resolve issues fairly with India. India will be an agent of fairness and will give more than its share.

There is a lack of will in Islamabad for honest peace, but there is still an ever unquenchable hunger there to force India to accept terms that are unacceptable.

Yes, Kashmir is a huge issue, but does it warrant Pakistan building so many more nxke, while the real murderers of Pakistani citizens are the militants trying to overthrow the state?

Pakistani unwilliness to destroy all militants in Pakistan and ignoring constant calls by the U.S. that India is not the enemy, is predictably perplexing.

“Personally I was struck by the way he used the word “request” rather than “demand” in this comment..”
***Myra, that is PM Singh for you. In the NDTV press conference you posted, I was struck by the word “help” rather than collaboration between US-India for XYZ issue (do not remember what) in India. Singh leans towards being a humble speaker which is good since he is neither really a politician or a crafty speaker and a harsh word from him could hurt the cause. Do you think it was intentional use of the “soft” word?

@On K-word
***Clearly Obama has used extreme caution not to use the K-word. Nothing new what he said here. He has grown up from a kid when he used K-word loosely. 8 and half days between PM Singh and Pres Obama in US and India and business deals has taken the punch out of his original mention of K-word few yrs ago. you gave good reasons, in addition for lower significance of Kashmir in solving Afghanistan problem. So K-word would be used only when it is useful to the USA, and he would not spoil relations with India over a word.

[…] Between the lines: Obamaâ??s comments on Kashmir – Reuters BlogsAn agreement between Singh and Gilani reached in April in Bhutan to hold more talks Â foundered during a rather sour meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in July . Scroll forward now to Obamaâ??s visit to India.Â Despite his offer … [read more] […]

I’d like the Indian government to settle Kashmir on its own without any external influence. Now is the right time. India has sent some interlocutors in this regard. Hopefully their honest efforts are taken further.

However, I’d like Kashmir settled only from the following stand point – removing the military from the residential areas and moving them to border zones, forcing the Kashmir state government to use its own police to quell risings, bring to justice those who committed human rights violations on innocent people, bring back tourism, jobs and peace.

But Kashmiris demand a nation because they are Muslims, I am against it. Much water has flowed under the bridge. We created one Muslim nation out of the Indian subcontinent and it has become two. On top of that the Muslim nation of Pakistan has done nothing for itself other than to sacrifice all its resources and efforts on catching up with the “Hindu” India. I am against forming nations for religion in today’s world. We need to share this world with others and respect others. If every small group started demanding a nation for their quirky customs, the world will fall apart. Everyone is breathing the same air. Muslims or Afrikaners or other religious followers do not breathe a different air. We share this world.

I’d very much support Kashmiris if they protest and pelt stone for not being given enough opportunities and livelihood. Fighting for religion is a total waste of time and energy. Religion is not meant for fighting. It is meant for bringing peace and solace. I don’t want Kashmir settled because Muslims feel separate from others. Those days are over. If they still feel they need to be on their own, they can gladly migrate to many Muslim countries like Pakistan. We all need to move on. There are opportunities growing for everyone to enhance their potential and seek better life. Join the bandwagon instead of trying to fall under its wheels.

So what about heaven? That’s the problem of the hardcore fundamentalists. Sharing is not known to them. All that these monsters want is to muscle ‘their interpretation’ of religion down everyone’s throat. Such Religious foolishness will take this world nowhere.

For Kashmir I don’t understand why can’t Kashmiris join Indian military as officers. Why can’t Kashmiris sit for NDA exams in big numbers? I don’t think Kashmiris are barred from NDA exams? When I went for SSB interviews I did meet a few Kashmiris. But why only a few? Why not a lot? If you find system as faulty then join it and try to reform it. Why separation? Beats me!!

Posted by Between the lines: Obama’s comments on Kashmir | One Stop Everything News | Report as abusive

Nov 9, 2010

11:47 am UTC

As far as us pakistani’s are concerned we believe that India should honour the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council on Kashmir, we ask nothing more than this ! ! ! let kshmiris decide their future its as simple as that, Indian government has always denied this right of self-determination to the people of kashmir which is a major civil rights abuse.

As for the so called allegations of state spnosored militancy is concerned, it is quite amusing to hear such a thing from a state who herself is involved in funding militants in Afghanistan who are disrupting life in NWFP & Baluchistan. i never buy such a allegation as every state plays proxy wars on other states!

Its in the interest of this region that we find solution on the basis of UN resolutions and if we dont then Kashmir is a bomb in waiting to explod any moment as we are witnessing riots in Kashmir for past few months.

Our military has been used excessively in Kashmir since 2007. I do understand the reasons for its deployment during the proxy war days in the 1990s and early part of this decade. I think Indian government blew a golden opportunity to assuage feelings and try to attract local Kashmiris to change their perspectives. If you are kept under siege and curfews frequently, bad will become worse. The central government is quite inept in these matters. They are reactive rather than proactive. They wait for things to get worse before acting reluctantly on them. The reason is because those in powerful positions have finance background – Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram. They can definitely act on economic matters and India is where it is due to their expertise. But non-economic issues like security, internal friction etc are not their forte. As a result, they have simply left things to stagnate. The government led by these two has not made any moves on Maoism either. A government has to have all round experience and have the right kind of people with appropriate administrative experience to handle various things. One cannot make a guy with math background in charge of defense or a former chess player as agriculture minister. The math guy can handle education and the chess player can do sports. Wrong portfolio assignments lead to small problems getting out of control. Kashmir issue needs to be handled by the right experts who know how to go about it.

I agree, nations formed on the basis of religion, historically has shown us to be an utter failure. Such institutions favor the political will of the majority at the expense of the minorities and leads to their exploitation and mass killing.

Theocratic institutions do not provide real true justice or true happiness to the humans spirit and kills creativity and joy within people.

While religion is important, I think that secularity, democracy and pluralism go hand in hand with imagination, creativity, generosity, friendliness and capturing the best of what it means to be a human being.

Islamic countries like Malaysia, Morocco, and Turkey have figured this out. They don’t choke out the life of religious minorities to impose imperial rule within. The live and let live approach creates the greatest peace and harmony and progress.

Unfortunately tight fisted Pakistani’s keep hold of the status quo, as though it is the right path forward for them and the past has shown this to be incorrect as Sufi’s, Ahmadiyas, Hindus and Christians continue to be killed and persecuted in Pakistan by Extremists, that are politically and philosophically sympathized with by the Pakistani public at large.

I talked with a Turkish muslim the other day. He said he is simply amazed at how so many different cultures and religions in India can co-exist, peacefully for the most part. He said it is mind boggling how this can be.

My simple answer was: Democracy. Although not always perfect, at least for now, from democracy, will arise the best of humanity. Everybody has a channel through which they can vent their frustrations. But still India has not utilized the full potential of its democratic institutions to fully benefit the marginalized people in India, it must and can do better. To all naysayers and detractors of Indian democracy, I say, regardless, it is irrefutably still quite amazing what India is and has achieved. I have faith that it will continue to become stronger with time, especially if Pakistani based terrorists continue to inflict warfare on India.

With regards to your last post, I agree with you, I think there should be a greater emphasis on portfolio allocation based on experience. India needs to bring up Kashmiri’s and perhaps recruit them to police Kashmir, since they understand the situation in Kashmir the best. It will go along way to diffusing the seige that Kashmiri’s live under. But this has to be matched with enhanced technological security of the LOC border.

As the dangers faced by Pakistan from violent terrorists intensify and Pakistani military is engaged in an effort to regain control of elements once created to confront India. There is a greater need to sort out the Kashmir dispute, it has been too long that this issue has been left unsolved. Even Pakistan has no control over it now, Kashmir is a ticking time bomb. Many a groups have linkages to Kashmir and are ready to fight and die.

True indian leadership is ready for a solution, so should Pakistan be. Lets see if both nations can get over it, and turn a new page in history. If Kashmir can be sorted out it will usher a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two nations and it will be an historic and life changing event for Pakistan atleast. With defence cuts and increased social spending, end to low intensity conflict Pakistan can regain economic prosperity and focus on quality of life of its people rather than keep worrying about disputes with a larger enemy state.

G-W: “Islamic countries like Malaysia, Morocco, and Turkey have figured this out. They don’t choke out the life of religious minorities to impose imperial rule within. The live and let live approach creates the greatest peace and harmony and progress.”

I disagree. Malaysia had its “Bhumi Putra” problem in which Malay Muslims sacked Hindu temples and rose against the economically better Chinese minority.

The problem with Islamic nations is that there is always a potential for fundamentalism to rise. This is very similar to the potential for neo-Nazism to arise in some European nations and the US. All its needs is a flame to ignite it in the form of war somewhere that involves these people or resource sharing issues or sharing a nation with others or facing better competition and skill from others. Economic progress tends to diffuse the rise of these forces. Backwardness is ideal ground for exploitation of the masses using religious sentiments. In India, we do have the people who exploit backwardness in local regions. I do not have to name them here.

These seems to be something fundamentally different about Islamic countries and relatively poor ones at that. The people in general are easy going and would love to live like others. But they are held together through fear by a few fundamentalists with power hold or forced to group by inviting retaliation from non-Muslims through attacks on them by the same people. This seems to be the norm. And religious edicts written more than a thousand years ago come in handy to sustain that backwardness.

Underlying culture also plays a part. Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world. Other than the region of Aceh, they are in general very peaceful. Al Qaeda has infiltrated there as well. In the book “Among the Believers” VS Naipaul describes the fundamental nature of the people in Indonesia. Though it is an Islamic nation, underneath that veil is a system that has evolved over centuries through Hindu and Buddhist traditions. They have retained the “pesantran” system that was in vogue before they converted to Islam on a massive scale. Many miracle stories associated with Buddhist monks have been shifted to Muslim saints. As a culture they have been passive people. You must read how the Dutch mowed down people running into them in Bali.

Bangladesh is another example – people are very different in nature compared to those who make up Pakistan today. Underlying culture plays a big role in the long term peace in a country. Belligerent cultures like those in Pakistani Punjab, Pakhtoon lands and Central Asia always have had the potential to ignite. Islam is a deadly fuel that has made things worse for these people. I am not recommending reconverting them to some other religion. I am just analyzing why these people are so volatile.

777xxx777: “Why can’t Kashmiris sit for NDA exams in big numbers? I don’t think Kashmiris are barred from NDA exams? When I went for SSB interviews I did meet a few Kashmiris. But why only a few? Why not a lot? If you find system as faulty then join it and try to reform it. Why separation? Beats me!!”

If there is one thing where Pakistan has defeated India, it is the alienation of the local Kashmiri Muslims from India. This is a war of the minds and Pakistan, by staging a proxy war using trained militants, has worked over a decade and half to make this shift in people’s minds effective. Prior to that Kashmiris did not trust the Pakistanis. In 1965, when Ayub launched Operation Gibraltor, the locals caught the “Holy warriors” and handed them off to the local police.

Today, “holy warriors” are looked at as saviors. Pakistan has done what it has learned and perfected during the Afghan proxy war – draw the bigger enemy into a known territory and make them trip and fall over and over again. All that is needed is sustained insurgency that slowly begins to bleed the enemy. The enemy in frustration takes it out on innocent people. Then it is only a matter of time. The people become helpless and begin to look at the military as an occupying force. Then Pakistan has to do nothing. It takes a generation to make the feelings permanent. In Kashmir, there is a new generation, which has only seen Indian military and paramilitary soldiers in every street corner, check points, searches, arrests, torture all through their lives. At some point, they will revolt and that is what India is experiencing now. Pakistan has to do nothing more as it has successfully managed to alienate the locals from main stream India. Many have lost their near and dear ones. India is now looked at as a colonizer and not as a rising economic powerhouse. They have no desire to jump in with Indians and progress economically. They do not want India anymore. That is the reason why they do not apply for positions in Indian services. Anyone who does will now be termed as a traitor. Alienation is complete. Now the ball is in India’s court to see how these people’s minds be reset. It cannot be done with military or other security forces. Inept governance both at the state level and center have aggravated the issue even more.

India definitely is at the receiving end in regards to Kashmir. All that Pakistan has to do is to periodically blow air into the situation to increase the flames.

I have read the synopsis of the subject under discussion and my commenter friend’s comments. I find people making silly remarks on religion have no knowledge of it. It shows the shallowness and mean prejudicial up bringing of the person who comments.

Can any friend clarify as to why the Shiks WANTED TO SECEDE from India which after shoving a long flexible bamboo through the secession movement of the Sikhs community in India Prime Minister Indira Ghandi effectively controlled the movement. However, the vengeful Sikhs killed the innocent Prime Minister most brutally exhibiting the inherent traits of disloyalty of the Sikh’s.

However, cutting a long comment short I would state and suggest that an individual of a genocide committal country-giving sermon to others do not seem good. It raises serious question about the nation’s duplicity imbued in its character.

All once colonial now independent nations have imbued duplicate character. No matter it will take time to change. Till the character quality of these nations changes they should stop speaking lies and refrain from accusing trying to hide own faults.

For information, India is the worst violator of Human Rights. My Indian friends should know that a genocide case is pending in Indian Supreme court for last few decades. It is suggested that by speaking loudly one cannot win by hiding facts. People of the world particularly of the west cannot be hoodwinked we all keep information.

Kashmir issue and Palestinian are of the same nature. So a solution is needed. Kashmir wants to be independent so it should be. Here both Pakistan and India today tomorrow or day after has to agree.

Instead of projecting Kashmir issue for the consumption of the west, India should refer the Maoist issue as well to show how well or adversely the issue stands for the nation could be projected for the information of the west. West will then be able to calculate how many decade will India remain united and then become like divided Russia as it is now.

Before concluding I must submit that US President’s
Comment on Kashmir had been very carefully articulated and was a well balance comment which suggested an early negotiated solution.

KINGFISHER: “Can any friend clarify as to why the Shiks WANTED TO SECEDE from India which after shoving a long flexible bamboo through the secession movement of the Sikhs community in India Prime Minister Indira Ghandi effectively controlled the movement. However, the vengeful Sikhs killed the innocent Prime Minister most brutally exhibiting the inherent traits of disloyalty of the Sikh’s.”

But then you start with:

“I find people making silly remarks on religion have no knowledge of it. It shows the shallowness and mean prejudicial up bringing of the person who comments”

Is ignorance your right alone? Why can’t you follow what you are telling others?

Khalistan movement was triggered by political reasons. Indira Gandhi and her son believed in burning up a place in order to dismiss the local government, installing Governor’s rule and tried to bring in Congress led government. She did this not only in Punjab, but also in many parts of the country including Kashmir. Sometimes it went to ridiculous extent. A majority government will suddenly be dismissed by a state governor who was usually a lackey of Indira Gandhi. Times were different then. She basically shook India hard and did not realized she was setting up land mines everywhere. Khalistan movement is an offshoot of that political stunts. There are always groups in every country and state that want to capitalize on this. There are people in India even now who do not want to be Indians. Such people will always be there and a nation should never give room for them to grow. In the case of Khalistan, Indira Gandhi wanted to bring down the government led by Darbara Singh. Her son propped up a small and relatively unknown guy and allowed him to gain momentum. Beyond a certain point this man began to spin out of control on his own and became a terrible monster. He parked himself in our holiest of shrines. Sant Bhindranwale had to be contained and that was only possible when Indira Gandhi launched the army to invade the premises of the temple and kill him. She had gone way too arrogant by this time and should have quit from politics a few years earlier and retired. Power corrupts people. She was punished for her actions. And the political goons again unleashed terror on Sikhs everywhere thereby causing more alienation. Fortunately, wisdom has prevailed and the Gandhi family has had a complete reset after Rajiv Gandhi died at the hands of Tamils. These twenty years have seen a life without much of direct control from the Indira Gandhi family. It has helped India reinvent itself. Now their progeny has grown wings and is flexing them to enter the political skies. Hopefully he will do a better job than his grand mother. It is all politics and has nothing to do with religion. That is why I always claim that Pakistan’s partition and Kashmir turmoil are part of politics more than religion.

Correct. They both were set off by the British as their empire came to an end. They set the fire on and it is still burning. It was the gift they gave to the people they ruled once. As far divisions between people and races, that predates even the British. Only they managed to align them and focus them against each other permanently.

As a reasonable hindu, let me tell you, the Gandhi’s were not healthy for India.

The Sikh movement was hijacked by Pakistani Stooges, in an attempt to foment separatism and splitting India. Most sikhs were caught in the middle, so Sikhs at large are not to be blamed, as the unreciprocal response in Operation blue star resulting in many Sikh deaths. The sikh community has not forgotten, but let it go, at least for now, and chosen to focus on self-development.

For that, I deeply commend and respect the Sikh community in India and worldwide, but simultaneously, I detest those that advocate separatism with India, it will not happen and cannot happen. Sikhs have the most productive diaspora and the most productive province per capita in India and in my humble opinion, generally represent among the best, what India has to offer. Having the most fertile land in India, it cannot be separated into a different country, millions would die of starvation. It is a matter of nation security for India to remain as one.

[…] Between the lines: Obamaâ??s comments on Kashmir – Reuters BlogsAn agreement between Singh and Gilani reached in April in Bhutan to hold more talks Â foundered during a rather sour meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in July . Scroll forward now to Obamaâ??s visit to India.Â Despite his offer … [read more] […]

@GW
You are not only a reasonable hindu but also an intelectual one with intution. Do not confuse territory with people. let the majority of sikhs have what they wish and let the kashmiris have their independence if that is what they want. It does not mean that the sikhs or kashmiris would separate from other communities of India. Try to free yourself fromthe middle ages where rulers, kings and dictators fought for the territory. Europe is a glaring example with the social and free market venture. Do not build castles over the heads of the people. democracy must follow the wishes of the people and not the other way around. Mr Obama message is the same which you put out in your vision, with the exception that in a coded message the great imposter was telling Pakistan to use violence against its own citizens and let India sort out its problems. Good luck, your vision of peace among all the people is going to benefit the lot, win win all the way.

With your thinking, everyone and their dog will want their own country. The entire earth would be embroiled in Genocides and multi-generational wars, since were are not “confusing territory with people”. This will not work, it will lead to death, strife and human misery.

I think we can build communion over the heads of the people, if they work towards a common goal, ie manufacture, provide services, pay taxes, have mortgages and pursue the dream to lift up and lift up their nation.

We do not need more divisions between people, we need more understanding of each other’s points of view.

“let the majority of sikhs have what they wish and let the kashmiris have their independence if that is what they want. It does not mean that the sikhs or kashmiris would separate from other communities of India. Try to free yourself fromthe middle ages where rulers, kings and dictators fought for the territory”
***That means you do not support the birth of Pakistan, right since that was meant to have a territory where all Muslims from India move. Even if it was an autonomous region, it still would have meant migration of Muslims to one area, which you think is a thing to do in the middle age. I totally agree with you on this.

Do you know there is no issue of Sikhs in India now as far demanding Khalistan is concerned? I can understand you about Kashmir, why do you think Sikhs desire independence? There is nothing like visiting a place and asking people. They will ask you to not talk about it it. Just like in Kashmir a generation of people has emerged with anti-India feelings, Blue star happened 25yrs ago and new generation do not think the way you think. Old generation of Sikhs also does not think that way. But if you think the disappearance of the last remaining separatist Sikh is a proof, then you are right we have an issue here. You will always see some radicals somewhere still having plans to have a Sikh nation. A COMMON SIKH LIVING IN PUNJAB does not think of Khalistan. Sikhs themselves know and say that they are not good at governing, they are great warriors–leaders as well as soldiers. They are great spiritual Sikhs. So this will cover both shades of Sikhism–spirituality of Guru Nanak Dev and militant Sikhism of Guru Gobind Singh. Ranjeet Singh was the sole administrator who succeeded.

Tell me how does a Sikh nation look like geographically and demographically.Please be specific and no USA and Gitmo talk.

Kashmir is definitely an issue. Do not let religion play be a dictating factor for separation. That would avoid a “Jihadi” into the equation or even a Taliban!

@ K P Singh and My Other Learned Commenter Friends those who commented on the article

Please go through quoted portion of your comment and may like to reply my queries to facilitate evaluate the facts on the issue and come to a consensus on the matters Hope you will cooperate:

1. ” Unfortunately tight fisted Pakistani’s keep hold of the status quo, as though it is the right path forward for them and the past has shown this to be incorrect as Sufi’s, Ahmadiyas, Hindus and Christians continue to be killed and persecuted in Pakistan by Extremists, that are politically and philosophically sympathized with by the Pakistani public at large”

* What about the Christians, Muslims and the Low cast Hindus being killed and tortured
by Hindu Politician’s sponsorship, why no mention of that?

2. “The government led by these two has not made any moves on Maoism either. A government has to have all round experience and have the right kind of people with appropriate administrative experience to handle various things”.

* Does your statement mean the Prime Minister is inapt or not competent to run the national affairs efficiently?

3. “I agree, nations formed on the basis of religion, historically has shown us to be an utter failure. Such institutions favor the political will of the majority at the expense of the minorities and leads to their exploitation and mass killing.”

* What is your opinion analytically about Indian history say of the Muslim era in India. Was that also a failure? However, even until today works done and left by the Muslims and British in India earns billions to feed the nation and as the Hindus are in majority share more on that earned money than others are.

4. “The problem with Islamic nations is that there is always a potential for fundamentalism to rise. This is very similar to the potential for neo-Nazism to arise in some European nations and the US.

*Why are the human Rights violations in India that arose the eye brows of the world community and a genocide committed sponsored by Indian political party leaders. Can Hindus not call it Nazism in practice? How do you deny the fact?

5. “Backwardness is ideal ground for exploitation of the masses using religious sentiments. In India, we do have the people who exploit backwardness in local regions.”

* Q: WHAT ABOUT BJP and its POLITICAL MOTIVE.

6. “Many miracle stories associated with Buddhist monks have been shifted to Muslim saints. As a culture they have been passive people. You must read how the Dutch mowed down people running into them in Bali”.

* Why no mention of Alexander to British mowing down India. Mentioning of the fact should not be a matter of feeling shy and small. can the fact be mentioned what happened then.?

7. “Underlying culture plays a big role in the long term peace in a country. Belligerent cultures like those in Pakistani Punjab, Pakhtoon lands and Central Asia always have had the potential to ignite. Islam is a deadly fuel that has made things worse for these people. I am not recommending reconverting them to some other religion. I am just analyzing why these people are so volatile.”

* Do you have any knowledge of Islam If you have then please reply analytically what you have found in Islam that it is a fuel to fire ? Do you also hold the Sikh in Indian Punjab to be fuel to fire for being Belligerent culture if not why not? Which are the countries in central Asia that are of Belligerent cultural and fuel to fire?

8. “India definitely is at the receiving end in regards to Kashmir. All that Pakistan has to do is to periodically blow air into the situation to increase the flames.”

* How do you claim India to be in the receiving end when you have got the cause for solution, the Kashmir people want Independence without any link with Pakistan and India even on that India started to kill the innocents protesters Is this what in your view you call receiving end, if not clarify? .

9. “Is ignorance your right alone? Why can’t you follow what you are telling others?”

* How do you justify killing of the head of the government for an act of the government that may have gone against the Sikh community? When the same issue could have been amicably settled through dialogs. Does this act of killing the Prime Minister not prove sufficiently that Sikh community is culturally belligerent , hot headed and ferocious when things go against their liking?

*If you hold as per your statement that what Sikh had done was correct then clarify if Indian government decision to kill Kashmir people under the circumstance is right or wrong. If you claim it to be right then how you can claim Sikh’s Secession movement was to be right and then how you say Kashmir people demand to secede is wrong, elucidate?

10.”let the majority of sikhs have what they wish and let the kashmiris have their independence if that is what they want. It does not mean that the sikhs or kashmiris would separate from other communities of India. Try to free yourself fromthe middle ages where rulers, kings and dictators fought for the territory”

*The Political Analysts and observers would not like more than to hear what my learned commenter friend had said. Do you agree if not why not?

I think it’s time, Indians REALLY stop giving a darn about what Pakistan thinks. Obama (& the rest of the world) has made it absolutely clear that India is in a completely different league from Pakistan & if Pakistanis are having trouble swallowing this fact, then, well it’s their problem. I’ve checked out a few Pakistani news sites & all I see is sulking, sulking & more sulking (with refference to Obama’s India trip). One thing that Indians do need to do, is put pressure on the Indian Govt to systematically reduce military presence in Kashmir, bring speedy justice to the bereeved & work on a quick political solution in the valley. Besides that, Indians should keep doing what they are doing, get a good education, work hard & everything else will be good. If Pakistanis choose to stay in the dumpster & ascend towards irrelevancy, let them.

“The time is fast approaching when world will see how an emerging economical power merges with dust and vanishes. This is what perhaps will culminate into, just wait and see. It is because it India is politically unstable country with states wanting to breadth air of freedom and many are subjugated for much to long under Hindu class system wants to break way.”

***I think you “just wait and see” all these comments you carefully assembled becoming irrelevant because India will “merge with dust”. No point discussing Sikhs and Kashmir when India will become dust or perhaps you yourself do not believe this. Just have patience.

@GW,Rehmat
Kingfisher has the ability to go deep into your commentry and have raised very suitable interrogative questions and this dialogue can continue without my participation. I support his comments; I am baffled with some of the comments coming from Rehmat and GW. Why do you guys always try to confuse the issue. Am I a Kashmiri or a sikh or an Indian? Certainly not.
I am a democrat and strongly believe in socialist free market system. I also believe in the direct participation of citizens in the democratic system as practiced in Switerland.
I am definitely against a system of Govt. which uses military suoppression and State terror against its own citizens. My statements on kashmir issue and the sikhs issue simply reflects this principle.
Most normal people are satisfied if they have self rule and are autonomous within their own region, province or what have you. Democracy means freedom of expression and self rule, not the suppression of the expression by the military. Now tell me in all honesty, are you still of the opinion that the Kashmiris should continue to struggle for freedom in the next generation?
Rehmat, Do’nt me the crap, that siks are not good at governing, they are great warriors, leaders as well as soldiers. These are the words of the colonialists about the Indians, africans and the afro americans. India definitely needs to reform the education system,as well as to get rid of the inhuman caste system if it wants to sit in the UN Security Council and make independent decisions, without kowtowing the policies of the inmerialist USA!

To be Confident is good, to be humble is recommended but over confident is bad and complacency is dangerous in maters of Political decision and defense Strategy.

In the fast changing world anything can happen any moment, nothing is permanent so is Kashmir and its future. The visit of a powerful country’s President to the country is definitely a matter of significance but not the only thing to be proud off and show off. That depicts the immaturity of the nation, which should not be in the case of any Indian individual citizen.

Human Rights violation by any nation great or small speaks volume of irrelevancy of good human kind of that nation. So too committal of crime against humanity sponsored by Political Leaders of a country smears the edifice of self-proclaimed democracy and Leader of mankind. Once damaged can never be regained even by use of nuclear arsenals.

To become super power is tough and to keep it intact is still tougher. Flexing muscle can make enemies but kindness and humbleness gather friends. It is time India understands these facts. The earlier is the better.

Sikhs are capable of governing as well as anyone else. I don’t think that’s the reason why sikhs (generally) don’t want a ‘Khalistan’. As a sikh, I can tell you that a vast majority of sikhs are not interested in Khalistan because they believe in pluralism & tolerance and they feel that they are much better off being a part of the fabric of a diverse Indian society than a nation, based & built on religion.

It is time you quit chasing your forefather’s BS dreams and BS history that they have made. You have the internet, you have all of the knowledge now. Be your own man and develop a new vision for Pakistan. It is time for you to grow up.

@Myra
I read your articles with interest and always hope that one day there would be less about the monsters that the anglo saxon administrations have put in circulation over the past ten or more years and more about the people, the real people of the regions. it would be great if the independent journalists were to feel, speak and understand the languages of these people.

. millions of Indians who are not able to feed themselves, or have a free access to education or even have the freedom to express their aspirations in the society. Millions have even been classified as low caste humans by birth.

. millions of Pakistan citizens who are internaly displaced by the military violence or as a result of the so called natural disasters caused by floods and earthquakes as well as the communal violence. They have lost their identity since they go to religious schools, resist against Pakistan military intrusion in their autonomous region and have even taken arms against the USA and Nato forces. They have been labelled radicals, Islamists , talibans and friends of AlQuaeda, whatever that means. It is even alleged that among them are the future terrorist who are going to undertake suicide missions agaist India and western countries.

How on earth the world is going to confront or live with the bogeys of the west, the so called monsters? During the ww1 and ww2 the citizens were told not to speak loudly so that the 5th columnists around could misuse the info.

Rex Minor

PS what I find amusing is that India was a great friend of Communist Soviet Union, the great satan of the 20th century, and now is fast becoming the friend of the 21st century Great Satan; the fatwa was recently announced by an Iranian muslim priest!!

I agree with you, the way Sikhs area part of the fabric of the colour of India, the same way are the hindus, muslism, christians, jews, jain and many others. All peoples make India complete. Separating anyone of them destroys the Indian family.

India is not defined by any one language, culture or people, India is the culture of many, a culture of inclusivity, secularity, plurality, democracy, restraint and sublime overall character refined by the last thousands of years. Indians have the patience, the intelligence and spirit to weather and move beyond and that they are, they are shooting for the stars and the moon, while Pakistani’s are still shooting themselves in the foot.

@Kingfisher, you want to speak of human rights violations and such,

Please feel free to discuss blasphemy laws of Pakistan, killing of Sufi’s and Ahmadiyas, Bangladesh Genocide by Pakistani Army and dozens more. India has its share of problems, that is undeniable and they wont’ be fixed overnight, but the tools and means are there to facilitate resolution of many issues. The issue is lack of political and moral will by the leaders, not the people of India.

A country as large and diverse as India with such a huge population, it is conceivable that it will never ever have any people that are happy with everything. There will always somebody that has not been addressed or listened to….that is a consequence of so little land and so many people and so little resources to share.

Since you are a detractor and naysayer, negative people like you should not be under any delusions, what India has done and created since partition is truly awesome, incredible and beautiful. India stands on many levels as a guide to what is achievable with so many differences in opinion, language, religion and cultures.

It really makes me laugh when people with sour grapes on their plate keep harping about India coming apart and break up…these are all dreams of madmen, who belong in sanitariums. My family relative just came back from india, and traveled all over there, he said, India has come a long long way and its amazing with the breakneck speed with which the new generation of youth from all backgrounds and religions are becoming like one, uniform, cohesive culture. Year after year, it is changing so fast, the ideas, energy and entrepreneurialism disseminates so quickly!

I think the emerging youth, with their new modern outlook, new ideas, courage and ability to immerse with one another will be the backbone of India becoming a superpower. All types of Indians are contributors to this, whether muslim, hindu, sikh, christian or others.

@UmairPk,

I feel sorry for you, you really don’t have any positive male role models in Pakistan, not one, they are all either militants, terrorists, liars or military mafia junta. Everybody there is dysfunctional, with the exception of a few “fifth” column writers that keep getting persecuted.

G-W:
“I feel sorry for you, you really don’t have any positive male role models in Pakistan, not one, they are all either militants, terrorists, liars or military mafia junta. Everybody there is dysfunctional, with the exception of a few “fifth” column writers that keep getting persecuted.”

-My friend I rather feel sorry for you, it has been years I am interacting with you guys and you are constantly displaying your hatred for Pakistan. I would suggest why dont you just shut up and mind your business? Just as not all Indians are stupid and full of hatred as you, similarly not everyone in Pakistan is insane.

“I am baffled with some of the comments coming from Rehmat and GW. Why do you guys always try to confuse the issue. Am I a Kashmiri or a sikh or an Indian? Certainly not.”
***Instead of getting baffled if you address the needful, that would be a great use of your time.

“Now tell me in all honesty, are you still of the opinion that the Kashmiris should continue to struggle for freedom in the next generation?”
***In all honesty, I tell you that are screwed up big time!!! why do you use “still” for me? Do you know this conveys the sense that I endorse Kashmiris struggling forever for their cause. I do not do that. Not only me, many Indians on this blog do not want kashmiris struggle and they want IA back in barracks and police out in Khakis.

“Rehmat, Do’nt me the crap, that siks are not good at governing, they are great warriors, leaders as well as soldiers.”
***OK, I won;t give you crap, at least not over this. I don’t think you are worth my time with your knowledge of history of the area. Despite my request you could not stop diluting your post with USA masala.

Tell me do you really think Sikhs want Khalistan? You got to live with normal Sikh population not asylum seekers. Khalistan is a non-issue.

+++++++++++++++++++

@Mortal
“Sikhs are capable of governing as well as anyone else. I don’t think that’s the reason why sikhs (generally) don’t want a ‘Khalistan’. As a sikh, I can tell you that a vast majority of sikhs are not interested in Khalistan because they believe in pluralism & tolerance and they feel that they are much better off being a part of the fabric of a diverse Indian society than a nation, based & built on religion.”
***I AGREE with you what I said is not the reason for why Khalistan did not happen. And I did not mean that. Sikhs did not want Khalistan so did not happen–agreed.

I said that in the same vein what is said for Kashmir that governing an independent Kashmir will be a tough job–the post-independent land scenario. This is where we differ.

Sikhs are great soldiers and officers. I admire them more because they have both sides–the tolerant and kind. Now why I said that Sikhs are not good at governing? My view is derived from Indian politics from whatever I know. I may be wrong. Perhaps I am wrong if I look at how successful Sikhs are in Canada and USA politics.

“India definitely needs to reform the education system,as well as to get rid of the inhuman caste system if it wants to sit in the UN Security Council and make independent decisions, without kowtowing the policies of the inmerialist USA!”
***Educations sytem has nothing to do with UNSC. are you crazy? focus yourself.

I have not seen a hypocrite like you, and so confident at that.

here is why:

1. Agreed with Caste system in India. Again you do not know the trend–is it getting better or worse. I did not see such passionate opposition of Bangladesh genocide despite few posters begging you to have your head in place. You chose not to judge the genocide of “300,000” (your number not mine).

2. Why are you such a cheerleader of China whose only aim is to care for the Han majority, which is 90%. Rest 10% = nearly 140million is meaningless to them. This is reflected at common man level.

Why don’t I see you oppose China and plead to rip permanent UNSC seat for oppression of Uighur Muslims, Budhists, elimination of intellectuals in masses by Mao and continuing that trend till now and having slaves in the names of workers for cheap prices they sell the products at. Have you forgotten those Uighur Muslims in China. Could you please explain here without bringing GOD’s words to save you why you are such a big fan of non-democratic and oppressive regime and hate at least trying to be democratic India?

I’ve seen some mature & well intentioned comments from you, as of late, so let’s not get back to the juvenile rhetoric. My harsh critisizm was meant for those Pakistanis, who refuse to give up their hate & bigotry and instead continue on a path of jelousy & finger-pointing, devoid of any sort of introspection. For those Pakistanis, who are sincerely working towards peace & towards reforming their country, I have nothing but repect & admiration. You have to choose, which of the above catagories you belong.

@Rehmat: Your comments are well taken.

@Rex Minor

Nov 8, 2010, 4:49 EST
“I have said my piece on this blog and now I leave it people like GW to carry on. My time is up and perhaps I shall return with my comments after 2012″

The author has used several hundred words and it seems she is discovering something new! We Indians have been saying the same to her for 2 years now ( at least 2 years as far as I know, don’t know how long it has existed).

This is funny.

The gist of her discovery is Pakistan army/ISI would have continued with terrorist attacks inside India, while India holding “peace talks” with pak. What is new here?!

I do not hate Pakistani’s including you. Please don’t post false perceptions here. Analyzing Pakistani behavior should not equate Indians to becoming haters.

Let me be analytical a little further, yet simple, there are many things abscent to facilitate the function of a normal psyche in Pakistan. That is a fact that most of the world will agree upon. Sorry if that makes you angry. You defiance speaks volumes of your damaged psyche. Peace is difficult with those who continue to have a clenched fist.

We will keep trying.

As I said, Umair, try to rise above and be your own man. Leave behind the politics of the past and try to embrace a new vision. Can you do that? Or are you limited to madrasa and army propaganda? I dare you to be different, if you have the heart and courage, otherwise you are like the rest and nothing new to offer.

@”there are many things abscent to facilitate the function of a normal psyche in Pakistan” Posted by G-W

Mushy has been exposing the phsyche of Pakistanis, as of late. An excerpt:

“Musharraf acknowledged that Lashkar-e-Taiba and like-minded groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad were “involved in terrorism in Pakistan” but said they have been “very popular” for fighting Indian rule in divided Kashmir.

“Since they were going to Kashmir and fighting the Indian army, it went along with the psyche of the people of Pakistan — with everyone,” Musharraf said.

-You say so, and I have experienced that during my recent month lonh holiday in UAE. I came across many Indians and even made a couple of new friends there. I have had completely stranger Indians approach me on the way to airport and at the train station etc and open a conversation knowing I am from Pakistan. Mostly the conversation would be about what is going on inside Pakistan. Particularly I found Indian Muslims there being more concerned/interested to talk.
Again my question to you is why do you express your hatred towards Pakistan repeatedly?

Ok lets take a look at what you stated above:
“I feel sorry for you, you really don’t have any positive male role models in Pakistan, not one, they are all either militants, terrorists, liars or military mafia junta.”

-Now I would ignore the rest, but highlight the positive male role models in Pakistan. First of all it could be Imran Khan, a sportsman who won the cricket world cup and went on to do charity work and build a world class cancer hospital in Lahore. Then there is Abdul Sattar Edhi, who is unaware about his social work. Yet there is Dr. A.Q Khan, call him anything but he is a national hero, reminding us that if a person’s will is strong anything can be achieved. I also admire the current COAS Gen. Kayani, he is thought to be an analytical thinker and sound leader. Many other figures from the past that we can be proud of. And lastly, I can tell you if peace can be achieved between us, since afterall both people are not very different from each other there is a lot to gain. Resolution of Kashmir dispute will be a start and eventually we can bury a bitter past and start a new chapter. But the key is Kashmir, until there is genuine peace and Pakistan is strengthened, India cannot reach its full potential too. Let me put it in another way, as long as India and Pakistan remain locked in a virtual state of war, there are more opportunities to be lost and nothing to gain. The start can be made on small disputes and eventually Kashmir has to taken out of the way to lay the foundation of peace.

Thanks for sharing the DailyTimes article and nice to read that. I reckon maybe the civil society and young generation of Pakistan if provided the right leadership can put the country back on the right track. I agree there are faults among us, no one is perfect. But everytime I read with interest whenever anyone states that Pakistan should be split or broken into smaller states. And interestingly these suggestions are made by Indians. No wonder Pakistan Military has designated officially that India is enemy no.1. Mostly they analyze the threat posed by millitants and hypothetical threat posed by India. And act accordingly, save the costly nuclear and conventional arms race, Pakistan can save money and fix the education system, improve economy and create jobs, put people to work instead of going towards extremism. Unfortunately the world we live in is not a wonderland, real problems need real solutions, rational thinking and right decisions.

@Umair
“But the key is Kashmir, until there is genuine peace and Pakistan is strengthened, India cannot reach its full potential too. Let me put it in another way, as long as India and Pakistan remain locked in a virtual state of war, there are more opportunities to be lost and nothing to gain. The start can be made on small disputes and eventually Kashmir has to taken out of the way to lay the foundation of peace.”

See I knew when Umair comes out of his emotional fits then he is one very sensible and honest Pakistani. I like reading your honest posts and I would not mind your emotional comments to people suggesting splitting Pakistan. I would myself react in same way as you did if someone suggested to split India.
We must all appreciate Umair’s honest thoughts.

Yes I agree with the fact that India and Pakistan must start with small issues first and then slowly build trust and finally tackle Kashmir. But would you agree that for building trust Pakistan first needs to stop Let, JM, etc from instigating violence inside India? And then for starters I guess we can take up water sharing issues first. What say?

“And interestingly these suggestions are made by Indians. No wonder Pakistan Military has designated officially that India is enemy no.1.”

Yes such suggestions by Indians add fuel to fire in Pakistan for representing India as enemy no 1.

“I reckon maybe the civil society and young generation of Pakistan if provided the right leadership can put the country back on the right track.”

Yes True. A leadership that lends a hand of friendship towards India and not hatred. May be that lady we talked sometime back, Fozia Khan I guess her name was, some more like her are needed in Pakistan.

> But everytime I read with interest whenever anyone states that Pakistan should be split or broken into smaller states. And interestingly these suggestions are made by Indians.

When Indians suggest this, it is not out of hatred. It is to reduce the threat from a hostile neighbour. If Pakistan is friendly, why would any Indian want it to be split? These statements must be viewed in context and not taken too seriously.

The subject article is dealing with Kashmir, which according to the India Govt. is the integral part of he Indian territory.
For you to invite my attention to a debate on China’s domestic policies is out of place.

KASHMIR IS INDIA’S ACHILLES’ HEEL, and Mr Obama was very clear, sort out the problem and hands off Pakistan, India’s own democratic existence is in question? A seat on security council carries more responsibilities. Has the Indian PM understood this message, perhaps not, if his education level is of your calibre?

Many millions of Indians do not even realize that theirs is a military State, simply because of massive illetracy and those who are educated completed their studies in colonial structured education system. On top of that you guys have the audacity to accuse the chinese for having an undemocratic Govt. You are the copy cats of the brits and the yanks(because of the colonial education system), who are torturing people within their own country and yet do not hesitate to raise the question of human rights in China and elsewhere, a great spin,nothing more than the machiavellian politics.
I have mentioned previously, both India and Pakistan have so far failed to introduce an emancipatory education system, dismantling the colonial structures and ideoligies. Yours is not the humanistic society, and yet you come up with all the irrelevant reasons and excuses around most topics.

What spirit is this that makes a foreigner selflessly adopt the cause of the (chinese) peoples’ liberation as his own? Mao’s famous saying! I have been born with this spirit and have always felt the sufferings of the victims regardless of their religions and nationalities. I carry no hate for other humans but simply feel pity for the aggressors, for they do not know what consequeces are awaiting them!!

Mr kingfisher has repeated my comments in his Nov 10 post, paragraph 10. And your response, Khalistan is no longer an issue and that you and others on this blog agree for the Indian army back in barracks and police out in khakis. You also state that education has nothing to do with the Security Council. Perhaps you would also state that education has nothing to do with your commentry. well, I have got news for you, education has plenty to do how Indians behave within and outside their copuntry. You are through and through indoctrinated over several generations by the colonialists, your great Prime Minister and many members of his govt. You question my knowledge of history, without knowing my background and education level. And yet you are not able to understand my stance on democracy for the people and not the territorial interests.

Rex Minor

PS The 300,000 number against Yahya Khan so called genocide are not my numbers but those listed by Piero Scarufi. I have not yet been to sight the Pakistan Govt. paper you referred to?

How things change! I agree in general in with your comments, specially about sorting out, what I call the less thorny issues first. Step by step it would become easier to reach a broad understanding on the other more complicated issue of Kashmir.

In fact I do not understand why Qureshi kept insisting on discussing everything. It is impossible to get anywhere with that kind of public posturing. If I remember right, he made it abundantly clear after the last round of talks, which became a theatre spectacle, that he would not go to Delhi unless India was going to be serious about discussing all issues. Hardly the right note to start a new round when one has just ended in a fiasco.

I think Kashmir must be discussed, whether it be dispute or issue is just semantics. But to start with the most vexing problem and expecting results is ensuring the talks have no chance.

I think you are wrong in your assessment of Indian hatred to Pakistan, official and in the general public, but I don’t think I can convince you of that. Lets just disagree on that.

Ganesh:
“When Indians suggest this, it is not out of hatred. It is to reduce the threat from a hostile neighbour. If Pakistan is friendly, why would any Indian want it to be split? These statements must be viewed in context and not taken too seriously.”

-Ganesh, are you really serious, if yes than I would take that as a compliment. Pakistan posing a threat to a country 7 times its size. That does not seem real, and in addition to that you must keep in view that Pakistan is over sensitive when it comes to the threat posed by India. We were split in 1971, we will ensure at all cost it does not occur again. Such statements do little to create trust and add to mistrust. By the same token If India is friendly towards Pakistan, why would there be hostility on our side? And I think somewhere in between people on both sides think of each other differently, each side percieve other as unfriendly whereas the reality might not be same.

Dara:”In fact I do not understand why Qureshi kept insisting on discussing everything. It is impossible to get anywhere with that kind of public posturing. If I remember right, he made it abundantly clear after the last round of talks, which became a theatre spectacle, that he would not go to Delhi unless India was going to be serious about discussing all issues. Hardly the right note to start a new round when one has just ended in a fiasco. ”

-I agree here, on both sides out of the box thinking is needed, bold decisions need to be taken. Qureshi’s action might be due to weak position of Government of Pakistan where it did not want to further weaken its domestic political standing by suffering a public backlash on Kashmir issue. On the Indian side as well due to domestic political compulsions many times the right decisions are not made on Kashmir.

Time and again Pakistan has shown its obsession with the question of Kashmir and its relations with India.
A smart Indian on this blog writes that both India and Pakistan should have a dialogue but not discuss Kashmir in the dialogue. The same gentleman states that Kashmir is an integral part of India.
Indian Govt sends an emmissary for long awaited talks to Pakistan but the guy refuses to discuss Kashmir.

Pakistan military has always justified their defeats at the hands of the Indian military and provided various excuses. mr Musharaf caved in against the threats of a very ordinary American officer, but never admitted that he had no balls. The guy who was called a dog in the streets of Pakistan still claims that he is popular among the Pakistani voters since most of them are( illetrates)from the villages.
Pakistan now has an arsenal of the most lethal weaponry that only few countries in the world could match. And yet they have taken the assignment from their new masters to fight its own citizens, o’h sorry, I meant radicals, talibans and terrorists. Both India and the USA have identified the so called terrorists to Pakistan Govt.so no investigative work is involved. Pakistan military has committed to disarm the unarmed people, whose only weapon is the suicide act..
WHAT A SHAME?
My advice to the elected Govt. would be that Pakistan nationalises its army, sending the entire military commanders and journalists Generals into retirement and any future officer beyond the grade of a major should not be promoted unless the medical community has confirmed that they have balls to take on the enemy. The foot soldiers should be reformed to become a National Army, as well as introducing the conscription i.e, all 18 years youth should serve in the army for at least 18 months. Until Pakistan has achieved this status of taking on a nuclear equiped India, both the peers and the leaders should shut up about Kashmir or other neglected minorities of India.
Like G Prasad states India is in the premium league now. Like GW propses a dialogue to give independence to both parts of Kashmir without any pre-conditions and then puts out a list of pre-conditions.
Pakistan has no reason to trust India and repeat the mistakes previously made. Most Indians on this blog have talked about the dismembermwent of Pakistan and even though it would mostly harm India than Pakistan, their intellect is not educated to admit and Mr Obama had to remind the Indian Govt. of the side effects of their venture in Kashmir.

Good to see that you’re talking more like a pragmatic reformist & less like a jingoistic nationalist, these days. Keep it up. I feel that the emotions that Indians generally have for Pakistan can’t simply be catagorized as black or white (hate or love) because it’s a lot more complex than that. Most Indians have felt a mixed bag of feelings for Pakistan at different times. We have felt love for your musicians, athletes etc, hate for your “non-state actors”, sympathy for the ordinary Pakistani & anger at your military establishment.
As Ganesh pointed out, the only reason that Indians might be interested in a broken up Pakistan, is because they feel that a weaker Pakistan would pose less of a threat to them. This threat is not of a conventional war. We know that Pakistan can never win a conventional war with India. Th threat that the average Indian dreads, is that posed by your state sponsored “non-state actors”. Pakistan has been facing terrorist attacks since 2007 but India has been facing terror attacks, sponosered by your establishment, for over 2 decades. Many Indian cities have been attacked & many innocent ordinary Indians have lost their lives in those attacks.
I agree, more that ever that a solution on Kashmir is the need of the hour. I say this, not for the sake of Indians or Pakistanis BUT for the sake of Kashmiris. India, urgently needs to reduce troop presence in Kashmir & for that to happen, Indians, Pakistanis & Kashmiris need to sit down and carve out a political solution. IMO, autonomy is the way to go but whatever the solution is, they need to find it now because we don’t want another generation of Kashmiris living under military presence & under the shadows of violence, rapes & murders. They deserve a good life just like anyone else.

Umairpk: “are you really serious, if yes than I would take that as a compliment. Pakistan posing a threat to a country 7 times its size. That does not seem real, and in addition to that you must keep in view that Pakistan is over sensitive when it comes to the threat posed by India. We were split in 1971, we will ensure at all cost it does not occur again. Such statements do little to create trust and add to mistrust. By the same token If India is friendly towards Pakistan, why would there be hostility on our side? And I think somewhere in between people on both sides think of each other differently, each side percieve other as unfriendly whereas the reality might not be same.”

If you look at the number of criminals in a society, they are few, compared to the majority population. But the society is always cautious and concerned about criminals. This does not mean that the general population is made up of cowards. If Pakistan came to a proper war with India, soldier-soldier, you know the outcome. But if you engage criminals and mix them in, the whole equation changes. First of all they do not confirm to any international laws or norms. They do not have to worry about war crimes. They are not accountable. That enemy is something even the world’s most powerful super power is struggling to handle. This does not mean the US lacks the balls or they are cowards. The militants no longer fight an army. They attack innocent people, take them hostage and threaten normal life. Mumbai attacks were not waged against Indian commandos. The terrorists were given commando style training by Pakistan’s military and militant organizations and were unleashed into Mumbai with machine guns and grenades. This kind of war is new and is very difficult to handle when the criminals are sent in on a suicide mission. Pakistan’s military itself is not able to snuff out the suicide attacks inside Pakistan. Does this means Pakistani military also lacks the balls? Terrorist menace is a dangerous game. It can get out of control as Pakistan is realizing it now. Playing victims of conspiracy and subterfuge will not get Pakistan out of this mess. This is not an act of bravery. It is cowardliness in nature. I have seen admiration and praise for these militants in Pakistanis. I even remember a comment by someone, “Just eleven guys walked in and took on the mighty Indian security system.” This has nothing to do with might or right. Such a menace will have to be dealt with caution. And the body language of Pakistani administration clearly showed that they were trying desperately to hide the truth that they were behind the whole thing. Now it has been diluted to a diplomatic “a few rogue elements in the ISI.” That is BS.

Kashmir dispute can always be settled with an honest approach. But we Indians have lost trust of Pakistanis. Now even the US is realizing the double dealing and duplicitous nature of Pakistanis. When that is the case, it becomes a wasted effort on our part to engage with Pakistan sincerely. Of late I am not hearing about the 17 Indian consulates, Indus dams etc. They surface when other arguments lose popularity and strength. It is Pakistan’s responsibility to become a trustworthy nation first for anyone to deal with them.

We are not talking about splitting up other countries. We are looking at the scenario where peace can prevail in the region. If Pakistanis cannot manage themselves, and that cause immense trouble in the neighborhood, then a solution has to be sought. Suddenly Pakistan cannot develop a wonder leader who will guide them to glory. It has been sixty odd years and things have only become worse. Who will let such leaders walk safely anymore? Benazir was assassinated in broad daylight. She was the last hope. I know you are a proud citizen of Pakistan. But then reality needs to be dealt with.

“The subject article is dealing with Kashmir, which according to the India Govt. is the integral part of he Indian territory.
For you to invite my attention to a debate on China’s domestic policies is out of place.”

***Oh really! How does responding to your “misplaced” comments make my comments irrelevant to you? I am already convinced about you and need no further evidence of your double standards.

That was in response to your “out of place” comments on inhuman caste system, education reforms, Sikh nation, and fatwa/USA/USSR as the Satans and India’s bid for the permanent UNSC seat.

None of these issues spell like KASHMIR, the “subject article”!

I did not disagree (or agree) with you over India’s eligibility but asked your view on China which by your own criterion should be ineligible for the seat they have been sitting on for decades. Not surprisingly, you run away.

“You are through and through indoctrinated over several generations by the colonialists, your great Prime Minister and many members of his govt. You question my knowledge of history, without knowing my background and education level.”

***You are contradicting yourself! Do you know enough of my “education and background” to call me indoctrinated, do you? However, you do not want me to question your knowledge of history since you think I do not know your background. True, I have no idea nor I am interested in your background. I took your words at face value when you confessed that you do not know enough about Indian history and I can see that. I do not question your any other knowledge of history. Over China or anywhere else, I would debate with you over the points you made. As you saw I did for China but you disappeared.

Talking about “indoctrination”, was Chancellor Angela Merkel talking about people like you that multicultural society has failed in Germany? Calling people of other religions “non-believers” is not human and indicates that you are not adding positively to a multicultural society as far religious tolerance is concerned. It is trouble written all over, yet you claim to be a peace seeker.

I have a suggestion for you, rather a request: In future when you respond to me or anyone else, quote the specific quotes of the commenter. Else, it really goes offtrack.

“We were split in 1971, we will ensure at all cost it does not occur again.”

***Even if you do not trust that India is not planning on splitting Pakistan, you are safe because Pakistan has nuclear deterrent. It is time to focus on something else.

@Ganesh/Umair
“When Indians suggest this, it is not out of hatred. It is to reduce the threat from a hostile neighbour. If Pakistan is friendly, why would any Indian want it to be split? These statements must be viewed in context and not taken too seriously.”

***IMO Pakistan which is split up is more dangerous to India. Let us for the sake of argument imagine a “smaller Pakistan” is a country with nukes. Nukes are a deterrent and are fired as last resort when all options run out. There is threshold to fire the nukes and this arbitrary threshold would be lower for a country like smaller Pakistan, which would be weaker. One can imagine smaller Pakistan firing nuke much early than today’s Pakistan. The breadth of today;s Pakistan itself is considered a disadvantage for Pakistan for the fear of India knifing through it from front and back.

Rehmat: “Let us for the sake of argument imagine a “smaller Pakistan” is a country with nukes.”

If Pakistan falls apart like Yugoslavia, the first mission will be to take the nukes out of the region entirely. No one is going to sit and watch the nukes fall into the hands of a small group. The splintered new nations will need international support and relations to gain strength. And every splintered nation will not engage itself in war. They would know that they got their nations because of war. A separated Bangladesh has not gone to war with India or Burma. They are actually showing the way for Pakistan on how to be a responsible Muslim nation and a good neighbor.

Anyway, this is only a scenario if things begin to slide out of control. Today Karachi experienced a suicide attack. It is spreading into the hinterlands of Pakistan. Let us hope that Pakistan learns from this experience and abandons its reliance on radical Islam and militancy as a means to control others. They have to realize as the first step that India is not their enemy today. They can look at Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar etc and comfort themselves that India has no plans to take over Pakistan. A generation has come to pass. No one in India desires to take up Pakistan. And they have to learn to recognize India’s emerging stature in the international arena and respect it instead of try to thwart it. We have not accomplished it at the expense of Pakistan.

@Rehmat
There we go again with your rhetoric, proving nothing. No, I have no idea about your background or for that matter the background of any other blogger, but I do recognise your rudeness. I have never called any one ignorant, nor have I said that certain communities are not fit to govern! This is your educational background, this is the result of the caste system in India. You are an Indian, the label given to you by the colonialists Brits.

I am not here to teach you nor do I need a lecture from you guys.
But I must talk about the great India, the occupier of Kashmir, or do you reckon the kashmiris are inhuman and also unfit to govern themselves. You propose to send them the police force and withdraw the military. very kind of you.

I do not claim to have all the knowledge of the world, but do have the ability to learn.
In your view, calling non-believers is inhuman, not in my culture. Those who do not believe in God and the life after death are called non-believers in my part of the world. You might like to call them atheists, or other names that they have assigned themselves. I consider it inhuman to call them people of low caste or schedule class, and this is coming out from a country which was invaded and then ruled by muslims for centuries.
NON BELIEVERS IS THE DEFINITION; PEOPLE HAVE CHOOSEN FOR THEMSELVES AND NOT GIVEN BY OTHERS.
Perhaps this is viewed differently and considered rude India( this is the sort of knowledge I do not have) but I can assure you that I have no intention to belittle these people. For your info. the cartoonist who depicted the cartoons of the prophet Mohammad(PBUH) recentl y claimed that he is an atheist, a non believer, and have always made cartoons of the prophets of God.

You are a smart allec; No chancellor Merkel was not talking about people like me. This is a democratic country of believers, its constitution and the laws are humane reflecting the christian and jewish values and tradition. So says Chancellor Merkel, who does not have more rights than any other citizen. She is a former elite communist and the daughter of a protesten priest, but raised in former communist German republic, has integrated into the free German republic in a very short period. The majority of the Germans from her party believe that those who want to live in this land should integrate into the fabric of this country without creating ghettos or a multicultural societies, which exist in the USA and Canada. Integration not assimilation, but many others including the majority from the opposition party want a multi-culti society. Now I am not sure if you were insinuating something different than asking a straight question.
As a matter of fact, your ironic post, somehow leaves always a bad taste in my mouth, and I intend in the future to ignore your post. you have an intimate knowledge of the Indian audience who are familiar with your culture and that should give your post sufficient readers. Please do not feel obliged to respond.
A nice day.

You call India occupier of Kashmir, is Pakistan not occupying Kashmir? Or is Pakistan entitled to steal land from anybody that is muslim? ie Bangladesh, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir?

You selectively pick on India and don’t even mention an ayota of a word about how Pakistani’s have occupied Kashmir, occupied it with Punjabi settlers and setup forward militant training camps of all kinds.

You are a militant and terrorist sympathizer and hater of India. You hide behind words, but you represent anything that is anti-indian or anti-western. You have a chip on your shoulder and fail to recognize that all of the technology you use and enjoy, banking healthcare, aerospace, IT, all created by great minds from the west and India.

Why don’t you go live with the pashto’s? you would change your tune in a second, as you would not survive a day in that culture.

If Kashmir is a problem, please comment on the Chinese subversion of the Tibetans and Uighers, anything to say about that? Cat got your tongue?…..Please no more selective morality, it is getting boring hearing you bash India all the time.

I reply in kind. If you felt rudeness in me, go back to your post and see why.

“This is your educational background, this is the result of the caste system in India. You are an Indian, the label given to you by the colonialists Brits.”
***You have one-dimensional mind and tending to be pathological. You view a Muslims’s comments via the prism of Caste-system. How ridiculous you can get?

“This is a democratic country of believers, its constitution and the laws are humane reflecting the christian and jewish values and tradition”
***BS. Who said that? Church and state are supposed to be separate in Germany. With more than 25% atheists in Germany, you are still stuck with your word “believer”. If Germany runs the ways you want, those atheists would be like Ahmediyas in Pakistan.

“But I must talk about the great India, the occupier of Kashmir, or do you reckon the kashmiris are inhuman and also unfit to govern themselves. You propose to send them the police force and withdraw the military. very kind of you.”
***What make you think I said/assume Kashmiris are inhuman? You have serious problems and need real help. I am serious!!! No joke.

Police means local Kashmiri police and to most that goes without saying, not you. It does not mean Tamil police in Kashmir. Are you suggesting police-free Kashmir?

One understands that offense is the best defence sometimes. That is one reason why Qureshi was actually being defensive by taking up such an offensive posture. That is par for politicians, and that is understandable. But sometimes they must keep in mind the audience. What is good for a domestic audience may backfire with an international one. I think that was what happened, anyway that is water under the bridge now.

As regards India on Kashmir governance and handling, take it for me, if Kashmir today is still a troubled area it is due in no small measure to the political shenanigans that almost all political parties in India have played in that State. I have often said that Pakistan has just exploited the conditions which Indian politicians have created with their bungling and lack of proper governance over almost the full 60 years.

Here is some food for thought. I often wonder whether all three parties, Kashmiris, Pakistanis and Indians, are really interested in keeping Kashmir alive as a problem rather than actually trying to get to a settlement and establish stability there. Sometimes it almost seems that one or other of the parties sees advantage in keeping it simmering as a problem. One thing I am sure of, ego is the biggest stumbling block to bringing about peace, stability and better relationships in the whole region.

@GW
You want to learn, then let us exchange our views. If you want to lecture like some of your fellow countrymen, then I am the wrong partner.
All along I have tried to learn and understand the reasons of India conflict with Pakistan, and to be frank I do not have any clue from your debates. And then I saw a light, your idea to get kashmir out of the equation. A dialogue between India and the Kashmiri leader across the border. This project did not progress either; you do not even have the support of the mob on this blog. And suddenly I realized that as long as the people of india and Pakistan do not sincerely want to have a peace, they a’nt going to get it. A horrible scenario emerged before me.
No one in my view can now prevent the nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, given the current situation, Unless, the majority of the people want peace! Pakistan civilian govts have at least tried to find a peaceful solution of the conflict without the military option. Only military has the military option, and this they have messed up several times.

History; The nuclear confrontation between the USA and Russia was prevented at the last minute, since the USA caved in and agreed to withdraw its nuclear rockets from Turkey and hands off Cuba. It was Mr Kennedy’s wise decision and the humanity won.

.Yes, in my opinion both India and Pakistan are occupying Kashmir territory, if one were to assume that Kashmir is not the integral part of India or Pakistan.
. I live in west and I am part of the west. Your larifari about the great minds of west and India is nothing but a crap and a diversion. This is deep subject, perhaps you have heard of the industry espionage? The USA is actively engaged in this business.

. I have nothing against India per say, but against the system that India has, the education it provides to the students, the caste system it operates and have explained it. The responses from most have confirmed my opinion, no sign of a humanistic society, no decolonisation program, the use of the military against the citizens who are usualy the backbone of a democracy. Pakistan is no angel either, and their misery and lack of progress one could atleast attribute it to their military dictators. But India still claims to be the democracy. And you are unlikely to have a dialogue with others with a different opinion as militants, terrorist sympathiser and hater of India. I can assure you I do not need any chip on my shoulder.

. The Pashtoons do not threaten any one and their culture is friendly for the guests.
They do not negotiate with foreign military either, they resist them and this has been proven once again with their confrontation with The USA and NATO.
Perhaps you would have a different view if you were to visit them; There are many volunteer Indian doctors in afghanistan hospitals, who are treating the injured civilians from the American bombings.
.!

It will take time but I can assure you that the Pastoons have never come across such a weaker opponent in their history. They have defeated them on ground, though very limited info reaches in the west.
For your info.the two third of the population in Germany want their troops withdrawl from Afghanistan.
THE EUROPEANS WANT PEACE; FAR WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF WARS

now you want to discuss China, there are several other blogs where this can be intelligently discussed. China has also been the victim of the colonisation and have not united their kind as one China. Tibet is an integral part of the chinese territory and Uighers live in China. The Chinese did not get their country back on a plate they way India and Pakistan was handed over by the brits. The USA has ever been trying to encircle the chiness territory. The chinese Govts. have successfully withstood the USA military pressure and is fast becoming an economic power. The European regard China as the number 1 power in the world.
Now what may I ask is your concern with China? I am not a moralist, a sinner can not lecture on morality. I support victims and uphold human rights. This is in the scriptures and imbedded in the german constitution.

You may live in the West, but your heart lives in Pakistan and your perception aligns with Pashtuns. It does not matter where you live. Just living in the West does not make you a liberated and free individual. What matters is where your heart is and we all know where it is.

You are selective in the way that you express your views, that is what I take exception to. You don’t care much for the plight of the Tibetans, yet Kashmiri’s are a nation and deserve azadi?!?!?…I am just trying to make a point here. You are saying that Sikhs should get what they want, should the Uighers in China not get what they want too? Your double standards shine through again!

The reason I bring up china, is that you place greater weight on Kashmir freedom than Tibetan freedom. You say that people should allowed sovereignty as such, but you do not think that Tibetans, as humans are worthy of freedom from Chinese, but Kashmiri’s somehow are worthy of it from Indians, but not from Pakistan. Your warped, unbalanced and unreciprocal ethnic favoritism, leads me to believe that you are either muslim, or a closet case one, wanting to be muslim, and just like the Chinese for the sake of solidarity with Pakistan. Your double standards are a little “larifari” with most people here, that is undeniable.

It is quite laughable how one man in an orange robe with glasses, makes the entire nuclear communist superstructure shudder with excitement, anger and fear, it is really quite entertaining. Defenceless men in robes who pray and meditate, is enough to trigger a military crackdown on defenceless unarmed civilians, so thank you again for recognizing the Tibetans as non-entities! BTW, the Chinese are working hard to erase Tibetans as a culture all together. They have exacted huge effort to achieve this! Kudos to communism, a system where everybody is equal….equally worthless, and you politically sympathize more with the chinese than Indians and what they have to put up with china and Pakistan.

I agree, we should not have any more wars, I think they are counter productive, peace is the best way out for everybody, but a responsibly brokered peace, not a one-sided, imposed peace, where there is unfair conditions, a peace where all can economically and politically benefit, peace with concessions and compromise, not one man takes all kind of peace. Peace, where all militantism is destroyed for good.

With regards to the mob, I am not here to be liked, my point of view is, I believe is a little idealistic, but also a little away from from what the mainstream pack would say is a solution. In that regard, I stand by my POV and think it is the most sound and provides an out for everybody.

With regards to the Pashtoons, I admire many things about them. The ground reality there, is that there are energy highways coming through there in the future. There are 1.3 billion in India that need energy. There are oil and gas reserves, that need transit. The Pashtoons, can keep their unique culture and take the best of it, but they also need to enter the 21st century and embrace so ideals that will add to their uniqueness. Stagnation will only work against the world. You can’t stay static forever. Pashtoon women are dying to work, to learn, to educate, yet the culture is being kept backwards.

With regards to peace between India and Pakistan. You can talk to any north americans and europeans that have worked with Pakistani’s and indians. Indians do not come across as tight-fisted people who are unpeaceful. Let that resonate in your cranium. Indians integrate well with all cultures and even intermarry in many cases. This open attitude is one of the hallmarks of diaspora Indian success, globally.

Peace between Pakistan and India, involves both, but most of it, at the end of the day, IMHO, is 75% Pakistan and 25% India, for the ten thousand reasons that many have discussed over the several years. Pakistani’s don’t seem to want peace. Peace is considered some sort of military loss to the Pakistani’s and that is unfortunate.

You handle pakistan with kid gloves and want to reward bad behavior. Why don’t you propose a solution that will make Pakistan submit to peace, rather than pacifying Pakistan and just handing over Kashmir with out any thought for how it will anger the votership in a democratic India?

With regards to peace, you are half right, Indians DO WANT PEACE, it is Pakistan that does not want peace, at least the Emperors of Pakistan, will have no part of it.

@Rex
“You want to learn, then let us exchange our views. If you want to lecture like some of your fellow countrymen, then I am the wrong partner.”

So when someone does not agree with you and produces a counter-argument then why you start calling them as hopeless, confused, fool, etc, etc, etc. Do you propose learning for others here can happen only by blindly accepting whatever you say?

“No one in my view can now prevent the nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, given the current situation, Unless, the majority of the people want peace! ”

Nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan will NEVER happen. I am sure there are enough fools (opposite to your super intelligence) on both sides to not do such stupid act. BTW who is a war monger now? When Rex says then it is so called analysis but if someone else says then he is war monger….right Rex?

“Pakistan civilian govts have at least tried to find a peaceful solution of the conflict without the military option”

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

“And you are unlikely to have a dialogue with others with a different opinion as militants, terrorist sympathiser and hater of India.”

Did I not tell you of ULFA movement in Assam sometime back. Pull up your super intelligence and read about ULFA in Assam state of India. Yes you are an ignorant hater of India and sometimes ridiculous as well.

If you think Germany/Europe is perfect and India and/or Pakistan should pull up some Alladin’s magic lamp and fix everything in a blink of eye then thank GOD not everyone is as intelligent as you are.

PS. You decided not to post any more of your bigotry before 2012 but does your intelligence tell you its 2012 already.

You and I can agree on one thing, peace between India, where everybody moves on and lives and embraces joy and the other darker scenario, with hundreds of millions dead in days, lies solely with what choices the emperors of Pakistan make. Their creed are biggest possible source of peace, or the greatest source of death to all.

@GW
I am sure you are a fine person, but have all mixed up ideas. Let me try again to address your queries:
. The article deals with Kashmir, the so called integral part of India. India also claims to be a democracy. Therefore it is natural that I address the sikhs plight as well since their story is the proof how the Indian military handles civilian population.
. China has never claimed to follow the so called western democratic system, or have they? Besides I regard Tibet as part of China and therefore the Tibetans as Chinese citizens. Same goes for Uighers!
I hope that you are not going to mix up India and Kashmir with China and its domestic issues; this can be handled separately.

I agree with you, it is laughable about the stocky man in the orange robe and glasses.

.India has problems with Kashmiris as well as with Pakistan. Your proposal is sound to get Kashmir out of the equation. This is feasible, but you do not have a consenses among the mob, nor in the country. Your leader is old and appears to be tired, he is waiting to pass the buck to the next in line,
Some one from the Gandhi family?
.Why do’nt you try and ask your Prime minister if he would be willing for a dialogue with a Kashmiri leader from the other side of the border? Yours is a democracy, you as a citizen are entitled to know his response.

. You have not met the emperors of Pakistan but have the illusion that they do not want peace. This is your problem, and the problems of many. You create monsters from the weak people in the chain and regard most dangerous man in the orange robe as harmless. This little man has been trying to create a wedge between the western leaders(USA,France And Germany) and China whose economic welfare requires cooperation and not political confrontations.
.Have you ever met military Generals, I have and several. They are harmless and the weakest outside the war theatre! Do not imagine that they do not desire peace. They are very straight and usualy have less patience than those in politics.
If you take the polls in india and Pakistan, you would confirm my estimates that the vast majority of the people do not desire peace. It is my view that the military in Pakistan requires of the new civilian Govt. to settle the kashmir dispute with india within a specified time! In view of the American involvement, the clash between the two countries could come as early as 2011.
I pray that my forecast is false and the guns on the kashmir borders would remain silent.
. Stop worrying about Pashtoons, they are only around sixty million fully armed with klashnikovs, India or any other power has to cofront this energy before they can hope for oil and Gas. India would probably be better of with energy from the baluchistan route or the solar energy.
Rex Minor

Guys, there is nothing absolutely wrong with forcing Pakistan to a peaceful solution with India.

Again, I tell you, that Indians, we have the money and resources, let’s incentivize peace to the Pakistani’s by helping lift their people with humanitarian work, like Schools, Hospitals and assistance with upgrading their civil service infrastructure. If they refuse it, let them keep refusing it, we should keep offering it, until they tire of saying no and give in and submit, all of this should be done in a very public forum. The peace overtures should be louder politically than the current issues that make headlines. In this regard, we Indians need to refocus and pay the peace cards in a much more pro-active fashion.

Kashmir will be resolved and Kashmiri’s free, once there is enough good will built by India, it may just be enough to tilt the political landscape enough, where Pakistani’s at the polls will reject the status quo and demand a more peaceful stance towards India and their government.

We cannot fall prey to the myth that Pakistani’s will reject peace overtures for ever, we do not know that, we must keep the pressure of humanitarian gifts to Pakistani’s as our greatest source of power to defeat militantism and the current political gridlock over Kashmir.

If Indians fail to muster the will to keep reaching out, with tangible action the Pakistani’s can digest and appreciate, their focus will turn to more important endeavors within their country, rather than Kashmir, and India will not be viewed as the occupier.

If India takes an even higher road than the one its on, it cannot lose, all win big, especially Pakistani’s.

The biggest losers will be the militants and the Chinese will lose regional hedgemony to divide and keep the South Asia, competition down.

Militants will take knock out punches to the chin from every direction by both Pakistan and India. The economic union in S. Asia stands to lift all who embrace it, war will be a thing of the past and like the Europeans, Asians will enjoy a new era of peace and stability, under a secular, plural and democratic S. Asian region.

If there is a confrontation, it will be the darkest most sadest day in human history, ever seen.

I don’t even want to contemplate what it would be like. The entire earth will suffer.

My question, is, can the world afford to allow Pakistani Army to keep the entire world and 1.3 billion people hostage, over a small area like Kashmir?

This is why the pindi boyz need to pushed from every direction to make peace. In the event of a full exchange, there will be nothing left in Pakistan. Indians have third response capability with their subs. Despite huge Indian losses, with time, India has the ability to recover, Pakistan does not.

There will be no winners in a nxklear war. Everybody loses. Peace makes winners of us all. Let’s focus on ways to force Pakistan to make peace.

@GW
It would be for easier to convince(force)Indian leaders for peace whose future is at stake. Pakistan military is unlikely to give up even if India manages to defeat them a dozen times. They are going to try again and again with the hope to destroy one day the military might of India.
Mr Manmohan singh wants to have a dialogue with Pakistan Govt. simply to avoid the involvement of outsiders in the dispute, not to settle the dispute,Israeli tactics): and it would appear that Pakistan Govt. is prepared to discuss the Kashmir issue on the basis of the UN resolution only.
Perhaps India would end up constructing a wall
around its border with neighbouring countries to keep the enemies of india out.

Both india and Israel needs friends and it would seem that they cannot rely on any one other than the great bleeding USA. Too bad mr Obama failed to convince either China or Germany in the G20 meeting for reduction in their export.
Does my comments make any sense to you? TZhe bottom line is that you need to tango!

@KPSingh
You have a super brain and an inquisitive one. Your guesses are not accurate.

Ubi bene , Ibi patria!( Where I prosper , there is my country).
I once thought of buying a housing plot for sale near the himalayas, where, I could spend my summer breaks, but then I read a report in the local paper of an armed robbery at a petrol station. This was the end of my small project in India. Are you surprised? I now take my summer time in France in the area which was once invaded and occupied by the sarasens in the 12th century. Now please do not start another guess. It is not important for Kashmiri discussions.

@777
Please do not try to misunderstand me. I am not a war monger. Time and again I have said that you guys are influenced by the paranoid, started by the USA. You have supported the creation of monsters, AlQaeda(not AQ), radicals, Islamists, terrorists, ISI etc etc., and all of us now are suffering and do not know how to get rid of them. They are spreading all over the world.
We are placing every one in a box and then find it difficult to tackle the real world. Believe you me they are illusions and make believe stories. Most people are straight forward and hard working people and trying to make their living.
Now tell me, how are the Govts. going to negotiate with people who have been classifgied as terrorist? The USA administartion have realised this and even removed the so called talibans from the terrorists list and yet they find that the so called talibans are not prepred for a dialogue until the foreign forces leave Afghanistan. I have said all along that the Pashtoons do not negotiate. It is also my judgement, you may like to confirm from your Pakistani contacts , that those who control the Pakistani Nukes are Pashtoons and not Punjabis. The Pashtoons would never issue threats but would act within seconds of the ultimatum. The Pashtoons could not care less who the winner is or who the looser is!

This would simply occur because in my observation, the people of India and Pakistan do not desire peace, but favour more or less confrontation.
people must desire peace to have peace!
Now you have a different opinion, I rspect it and even hope that you are right. Do not forget the saying, ” the trees do not grow in the sky”.

You are running on idealism which is not achievable in reality. Your counterpart Rex is full of speculations and he is trying to read Manmohan Singh’s brain also now. It is hard to prove speculation right or wrong since speculation is not a fact.

Kashmir is not a new issue, so I looked back and found this decent discussion between Indians and Pakistanis.

I suggest you take advantage of what has already been decently discussed.

ON nuke war: I speculate that nuke war between Indian and Pakistan will not happen. Pakistanis are in mess, but they are not MAD to have nuke war. Generals love to live for the $$$ they have in pockets.

PS
The Somalian pirates are now holding thirty ships and would release them once they have received the ransom money. The USA armada is hepless against the somalian pirates. If Pakistan is destablised, we would find the pirates operating in the Indian Ocean, practically stopping the commercial shipping industry. On top of that India would experience the so called talbans in the Indian territory, thereby making a mockery of the India nuclear arsenal. The proliferation of the nuclear weaponry from Pakistan is a remote possibility , but from India is a genuine threat. Are you guys going to wait for the wikileak to publish the Pentagon classified documents or use your own imagination to understand the coded warning from Mr Obama? We must try to stop the destabilization in the south asia, it is in the interest of all Govts.

@Rehmat
Sorry,I do not mean to be rude, if you do not understand my statements then move on and ignore them. I am not here to improve your feelings! You must try to retain your ability to learn not only lecture. Try to locate the statement of your Prime minister to the Indian parliament. When I speculate, I shall say so and admit my error.

Rex Minor

PS
I have felt that all of you with the exception of GW are holding on to the Indian stand on kashmir and therefore are prepared for war. you even suggested to send in the police instead of the military. You reckon where the army is unsuccessful, the police could do the job. You do not appear to get the message. The kashmiris do not want any part of the india Govt. in running their affairs.

@”PS
The Somalian pirates are now holding thirty ships and would release them once they have received the ransom money. The USA armada is hepless against the somalian pirates. If Pakistan is destablised, we would find the pirates operating in the Indian Ocean, practically stopping the commercial shipping industry. On top of that India would experience the so called talbans in the Indian territory, thereby making a mockery of the India nuclear arsenal. The proliferation of the nuclear weaponry from Pakistan is a remote possibility , but from India is a genuine threat. Are you guys going to wait for the wikileak to publish the Pentagon classified documents or use your own imagination to understand the coded warning from Mr Obama? We must try to stop the destabilization in the south asia, it is in the interest of all Govts.”
Posted by pakistan

You seem to have run out of your medication, sir. Please order it right away or I’ll have to notify the concerned local authorities, in order to ensure public safety.

I sincerely believe it is our obligation to keep channels of communication open……
Unless we talk directly to Pakistan we will haveto rely on a third party to do so……..

Was he sincere or was this a coincidence that he used the exact words of the israeli PM announced decades ago, for a dialogue with Palestinians. Is it also a coincidence that Israeli want to have a dialogue but not on illegal settlements. The indian PM wants a step by step approach ith Pakistan after 60 odd years, without discussing the Kashmir issue until certain pre-requisites are met by Pakistan. No wonder Pakistan Govt. were fooled and Mr Omair felt let down.

It is clear, Pakistan politicians are not fmiliar with Machiavillian politics.

@G-W
“Again, I tell you, that Indians, we have the money and resources, let’s incentivize peace to the Pakistani’s by helping lift their people with humanitarian work, like Schools, Hospitals and assistance with upgrading their civil service infrastructure. If they refuse it, let them keep refusing it, we should keep offering it, until they tire of saying no and give in and submit, all of this should be done in a very public forum. The peace overtures should be louder politically than the current issues that make headlines. In this regard, we Indians need to refocus and pay the peace cards in a much more pro-active fashion.”

I must say your thinking is quite of the box and I like that. If that is what it takes for a peaceful Pakistan then we should do it.

@Rex
“It is also my judgement, you may like to confirm from your Pakistani contacts , that those who control the Pakistani Nukes are Pashtoons and not Punjabis. The Pashtoons would never issue threats but would act within seconds of the ultimatum. The Pashtoons could not care less who the winner is or who the looser is!”

If Pashtoons care least about humanity (any one who even thinks of launching nukes for ANY purpose, right or wrong, is a monster and a grave threat to humanity) then also in your opinion they are the greatest. One one hand you shout PEACE PEACE PEACE and on other hand so much chest thumping about Pashtoon ‘fighters’ and then you blame me for being confused.

“The proliferation of the nuclear weaponry from Pakistan is a remote possibility , but from India is a genuine threat”

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

“The kashmiris do not want any part of the india Govt. in running their affairs.”

How come that for past 10 years Kashmiris wanted Indian rule and just in 4 months they don’t? And what if next 100 years they again want Indian rule?

@Rehmat, GW
In my opinion GW is not an idealist, but a realist. HE WANTS PRACTICAL SOLUTION, A STEP BEYOND ACADEMIC INTERCOURSE. Indian leaders need to have a talk with the Kashmiri leaders from across the border. India tried to swallow Kashmir but the kasmiri people got stuck in its throat, Pakistan hung on to the part of kashmir and claiming the other under the 1947 agreement. The Kashmiris on both sides were relegated a secondry status. GW is the first one asking for the Kashmiris consultation. Both India and Pakistan should support the project. As an outsider, I have not identified any other major reason of a conflict between India and Pakistan.
I believe that the exit of foreign troops from Afghanistan and Indian troops from Kashmir are the first major steps for stability and peace in south Asia.

MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WANT INDIANS AND CHINESE TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL PEACE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS CANNOT OCCUR IF IN THEIR BACKYARD PEOPLES ARE BEING RUTHLESSLY SUPPRESSED. I SAW THIS MESSAGE FROM EARLIER STATEMENTS OF GW. Was I speculating?

@777
I am not chest thumping about any thing, the monkeys do! Neither the Indian leaders nor you guys have considered the possibility that the so called talibans are capable of reaching india in a days time and take out the Indian nukes. India must protect its nuclear wealth. I agree that only monsters are capable of launching Nukes, we know that the usa dropped two nukes on japan and has so far not apologised for it. All nuclearmed countries have monsters in their military.

If kashmiris want to be a part of India, than be it. I have no problem with their decision.
why use military then?

“Sorry,I do not mean to be rude, if you do not understand my statements then move on and ignore them. I am not here to improve your feelings! You must try to retain your ability to learn not only lecture.”
***You did not get me. I am challenging your stand and asking you to explain. Looks like you are not up to it. I am mostly very specific to what I say and ask. That does not amount to lecture. Not doing that all the time like you do is called a lecture. I use your comments and ask you to explain me and I have never heard anything positive from you that help me learn.

“I have felt that all of you with the exception of GW are holding on to the Indian stand on kashmir and therefore are prepared for war. you even suggested to send in the police instead of the military. You reckon where the army is unsuccessful, the police could do the job. You do not appear to get the message. The kashmiris do not want any part of the india Govt. in running their affairs.”
***Do not generalize me with other Indians. I cannot defend all the Indian posters here on their stand. If you have problem with my stand ask me specifically what that is and see from my posts. I have said Indians and Pakistanis are peaceful (people not politicians) but you think otherwise about people. I said India-Pak war will not happen—not even non-nuclear–due to nuclear deterrence but you think the war will happen. you even said that nukes in Pak are in Pushtoon hands—meaning “UNSAFE and IRRESPONSIBLE”–so easy to fire at India.

I copy/paste my previous post “ON nuke war: I speculate that nuke war between Indian and Pakistan will not happen. Pakistanis are in mess, but they are not MAD to have nuke war. Generals love to live for the $$$ they have in pockets.”

On Kashmir I said, I repeat: “Police means local Kashmiri police and to most that goes without saying, not you. It does not mean Tamil police in Kashmir. Are you suggesting police-free Kashmir?”

Let me ask you 2nd time: Are you imagining Kashmir to be a police-free state (let me add I meant Kashmiri police) after sudden pull out of Indian Army?
Oh! it just struck me why you do not want EVEN Kashmiri police from your statements on Sikh killing Sikhs (not factual) that police means brothers killing brothers. In my view it would be brothers killing unwanted elements and protecting the community.

“I believe that the exit of foreign troops from Afghanistan and Indian troops from Kashmir are the first major steps for stability and peace in south Asia.”
***Practically speaking, some foreign troops will stay for a while in Afghanistan. Your suggestion on Indian troops is feasible if Pakistani troops also do the same. Else it is just a useless wish and adding nothing to the theoretical solution.

Exit of Indian troops (not Pakistani) ONLY from Kashmir means trusting Pakistan. Can it happen? No. you know history more than I do on the Indo-Pak wars and the psyche of Pakistani military. That’s why Indian troops will stay at the borders of Kashmir facing Pakistan even after coming out of the streets. Others have given better solution and I support that Indian steps move to the border as required in numbers to defend borders and let Kashmir be secured by Kashmiri police. But you want a police-less Kashmir with Kashmir lacking Indian troops and Pakistani troops next door staying where they are.

“Indian leaders need to have a talk with the Kashmiri leaders from across the border”
***Suggest some names or positions they hold and tell me the feasibility of that happening. Even separatists in India want Pakistan to talk to India, so you can guess about Kashmiri leaders in Pakistan. Reverse has happened, Pakistani leaders have been allowed to talk to anyone in Kashmir and they have done that even recently.
“ sincerely believe it is our obligation to keep channels of communication open……
Unless we talk directly to Pakistan we will haveto rely on a third party to do so……..
Was he sincere or was this a coincidence that he used the exact words of the israeli PM announced decades ago, for a dialogue with Palestinians.”
***I wonlt ask you to show me Israel PM’ statement, I trust you. My view is that PM Singh is sincere. If he wants to copy Isreal approach would he use a different expression or the same? He may not be as bright as you are, but has a bit of common sense. I have heard his views over a period of time, you can call him powerless but cunning is not the word for him, which you are thinking, There is no grand scheme behind his words other than usual political pressure which he does his best to overcome. I think you lack knowledge about Singh as a person and politician and prejudice you carry about India-Israel partnership, which will always hinder you from recognizing the most sincere gestures of peace on an Indian PM’s part.
“As an outsider, I have not identified any other major reason of a conflict between India and Pakistan.”
***To name one, Bangladesh creation which India facilitated. That reminds me I have not heard your stand who killed them, although I hear a lot about terrorism by USA in holy land including even bomb blasts in Pushtoon land (since your theory is that brother cannot kill brother). You are good with intuition in many things except genocide in Bangladesh. Bit odd!

Rex: I do not doubt that you wish peace. Sadly, your words, if turned into action, and wishes, if granted, would not achieve that and worsen the situation.
GW’s views are harmless if not useful.
I hope you are specific this time (use my comments to help you respond) else it turns into a lecture which both of us dislike.

“MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WANT INDIANS AND CHINESE TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL PEACE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS CANNOT OCCUR IF IN THEIR BACKYARD PEOPLES ARE BEING RUTHLESSLY SUPPRESSED. I SAW THIS MESSAGE FROM EARLIER STATEMENTS OF GW. Was I speculating?”
***if GW said that, you cannot be given credit for it.

Posted by Between the lines: Obama’s comments on Kashmir | One Stop Everything News | Report as abusive

Nov 14, 2010

2:33 am UTC

@Rex
“Neither the Indian leaders nor you guys have considered the possibility that the so called talibans are capable of reaching india in a days time and take out the Indian nukes. India must protect its nuclear wealth”

Is it not chest thumping?? Don’t worry of Indian nukes. In Afghan land Pashtoons may be invincible but not in foreign lands. You think too much of them. Indians are perfectly capable to reply to any religious bigotry. And yes the administration at time of Hiroshima bombing was a monster in US.

“If kashmiris want to be a part of India, than be it. I have no problem with their decision.
why use military then? ”

Yes military should be on borders (I am sure that is the case with Germany as well, or is it not?), but when rehmat said let there be local police you have a problem. To maintain law and order and weed out unsocial elements all societies need police. Does Germany not have a Police made up of German citizens? Or are you saying German society is absolutely free of criminals and so is Kashmiris? Think a zillion times before answering.

“Neither the Indian leaders nor you guys have considered the possibility that the so called talibans are capable of reaching india in a days time and take out the Indian nukes. India must protect its nuclear wealth”

***This is an example of wishing something using some character. The character is Taliban here. How peaceful!

Taliban is not going to grant this wish. Their strength is the terrain they live in. No wonder they stopped before they could reach Islamabad which goes to their credit since they fight within their limitations. Let them first face Pakistan Army in any case.

Perhaps Taliban should first learn to read if they want to move out on such missions. They should not have burnt the schools like this.

@777
as long as you have considered the possibility about Pashtoons tribes entering into India, i have no problem with it. They have done it before! This is neither my wish nor my feat, so no credit for me and therefore no chest thumping.

You should support GW’s vision or the idea for Kashmiris, let them decide their future, both Indian and Pakistan military should quit the Kashmir land.

At times you have misinterpretted my post or perhaps I was not very clear. Rehmat pretends to a clever one like a fox and sometimes manuplates ‘words’.
In kashmir the police force were apparently unable to control the disturbances and the civil disobedience so the Indian military was sent to control it. This has resulted in full blown rebellion and loss of life, atleast this is what is being reported. Kashmir is now out of control and as an occupier, India is obliged under the international law to restore peace and order avoiding further deterioration and possible foreign intervention. Indian leaders are now responding to this situation, and here comes the great Rehmat saying military out and police in. This is absolute anarchy so my comments to which you now object were “very kind of you”. I have no problem with it, but if the police is now sent and military withdrawn, the civilian crowds would massacre the police.
A dialogue with the Kashmiris was GW’s proposal to resolve the crisis. You attention is centred on borders, but the problems are in the cities. Are you of the opinion that kashmiris from across the border are causing rebellion, you might be right if the border is porus and I would not be surprised if the chechenians along with the kashmiri resistance have also entered.

Rex Minor

I still believe that the next Indian leader to be should have a dialogue with the number 1 kashmiri leader from across the border and the leaders of Indian Occupied kashmir to find a democratic solution. GW’s has a sound proposal.

My sincere advise to you, please do not misinterpret. ‘CONSIDER’ was the key word.
Your feel of the english can’t be that bad.

This was also not my wish.

The so called taliban Pashtoons now control most of the terrain in the whole of Pakistan, specificaly the Islamabad and the main port of Karachi.
The Taliban Pashtoons have their share of Harward, Yale, Oxford and Cambridge and even Texas background(thanks to George W). During their rule they were the regular visitors to George w, until the time of divorce when George W demanded of them the return of their Guest. This is the red line, no Pashtoon dare cross. incidently this is no different in europe, Sweden and switzerland are more strict than others. Those who seek asylums in Europe and are then granted are not handed over willy nilly to the USA on demand

Do not worry about the schools in the Pashtoon territory, you have a lot to do in your terrain, particularly for your over populated country with inadequate institutions and discriminations.
NGO’s from Germany have been involved in schools constructions for several years and are usually prevented from the presence of the foreign military, the rest is nothing but a propaganda.
Pashtoons are a litle bit more concerned with Kashmir because of history and now the porus borders as well as Pakistan military intrusions into their holy land. Let us not forget the Ummahs spirit which Omair mentioned.

Rex Minor

PS Give serious attention to GW and 777, they have a lot to contribute for peace in their own style.

I still believe that the next Indian leader to be should have a dialogue with the number 1 kashmiri leader from across the border and the leaders of Indian Occupied kashmir to find a democratic solution. GW’s has a sound proposal.”

–>You forgot to add, under third party supervision, and don’t forget to include Pakistani Army and Civilian Leaders of Pakistan. We do not want any more “larifari” from Army.

Do not forget, one of the biggest things to be done is to de-weaponize the region of Militantism, pro-actively, conclusively and with a vengeance, no apologies shall be given. In this regard, Pakistan MUST take a zero tolerance approach to all frankensteins it created.

@GW
Let the USA, NATO and Pakistan army take on all militants to a dead end.

Let us see first What India and the Kashmiri leaders can achieve, ofcouse with cooperation of third party regional actors and even UNO actors and the UNO support. Do not start with preconditions otherwise the project ain’t going to fly. Let the Kashmiris have the say and let the Indians and Pakistan support it.

I would very much like to live and see the great leader or a military General, or even a genious magician, who is able to defeat or disarm the sixty odd million Pashtoons with klashnikovs.
I am afraid that the way it looks and reading Nostra Damus, unless there is a move towards peace, the destabilazation process is going toengulf the entire subcontinent. The clash of civilisation would then be unavoidable and rule of force would come back from the ancient days.

@Rehmat
You should consider your rhetorical commentry of Nov. 13, and try to shorten the list of your questions, without misinterpretting my comments with your feelings. A straight question will receive a straight answer. But please, let the kashmiris and talibans and the Pakistan military answer the questions you have for them. I do not know, repeat do ot know what their responses would be. I can only observe the development of the situations and based on history, make a prognosis for the future. you may be an optimist and do not agree with it and probably things would remain static, but I do not.
Rex Minor